Q&A with Niceville lacrosse player Gavin Gifford
NICEVILLE, Fla. — A Q&A with Gavin Gifford who is a lacrosse player at Niceville High School.
Name: Gavin Gifford
Age: 18
School: Niceville High School
Grade:聽 12th
Sports: Lacrosse
Teams: Niceville High School Varsity
Years in current sports: 6
What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?
Gavin Gifford: My main goal in lacrosse has always been to get a scholarship and play in college. I鈥檝e always strived to play at a higher level so maybe after a few years at a D2 school I鈥檇 like to transfer to a D1.
What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
Gifford: I think the biggest challenge in my sport would be the adversity not only me, but my team as a whole, faces. The panhandle is pretty behind as far as development of lacrosse players but I think we鈥檝e really been able to rise above that and put a good team together that can compete throughout the state.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Gifford: I think the best advice I鈥檝e ever been given is to play every game like it鈥檚 your last. Anything can happen in a matter of seconds so it鈥檚 best to leave it all out there every time because you never know.
What do you love about your sport?
Gifford: I love how it鈥檚 always been an outlet for me. No matter what I鈥檓 going through or how I鈥檓 feeling whenever I get the opportunity to play it鈥檚 pretty much always going to make me feel better.
Do you have a pre game ritual you follow?
Gifford: As far as pre game rituals i just like to get the team together and hype my boys up and get them ready to play. Then I take a knee, say a quick prayer, and then go get to work.
If you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be, and why?
Gifford: Maybe a giraffe just cause I鈥檝e always been called tall and lanky so I think that鈥檇 be a good comparison.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Gifford: Outside of lacrosse I really like to hunt, fish, and surf. Those are probably my top 3 favorites.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Gifford: Being a part of a team has really taught me how to step up and be a leader. It鈥檚 also taught me some humility and that it鈥檚 not all about me, but the team as a whole, and what we can all do together.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?
Gifford: I think the best advice would be what I said earlier with just needing to step up and play every game like it鈥檚 your last opportunity.
Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
Gifford: Lacrosse is a really fast moving sport so honestly mistakes happen pretty frequently and I mess up. It’s just part of it. So I just quickly try to acknowledge that that was probably a dumb decision and try to not do it again and have a 鈥渘ext play鈥� mentality.
If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life what would it be?
Gifford: I am really allergic to milk and there鈥檚 a place in Orlando that sells dairy free donuts that actually taste really good. So I鈥檇 definitely say Voodoo donuts.
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